Device for removing stains from fabric



June 13, 1961 w. N. BOURLAND 2,987,906

DEVICE FOR REMOVING STAINS FROM FABRIC Filed Aug. 26, 1958 I'll lIiEi:il' .IYI I I I! T 47 33 25 45 43 IN V EN TOR.

W/L /AM N BOURLAND United States Patent Office 2,987,906 DEVICE FORREMOVING STAINS FROM FABRIC William N. Bourland, 3516 Fortner Way, FortWorth, Tex. Filed Aug. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 757,233 1 Claim. (Cl. 68-213)My invention relates to stain remover devices, and more particularly todevices for removal of stains from fabrics, and especially wearingapparel.

My invention is particularly applicable to the removal of albuminoustype stains from fabric material by a digestion process. A number ofsuitable digester compounds and solutions are commercially available.For effective use, however, such digesters in contact with the fabricduring the stain removing procedure must be kept within certain limitsof temperature and moisture. In accordance with the prior art of which Iam aware, there has been no apparatus or device available that hasproven to be entirely satisfactory for carrying out the digestive stainremover process.

It is accordingly the general object of my invention to provide animproved device for use in removal of stains from fabrics by digestiveprocesses.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus which will keepthe fabric and digester sufliciently moist for effective digestingactionduring the stain removal operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide apparatus which will keepthe temperature of the digister within limits required for effectiveaction during the stain removal operation.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description taken in accordance with the accompanyingdrawing, forming a part of this application in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the device in accordance witha preferred embodiment of my invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section view taken at lines II-II of FIG. 1, but with thecover slightly raised and fabric to be spotted in position within thedevice.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a container 1 1 and acontainer cover 13. The container 11 is in the form of a cup having anopen bottom and a relatively thick side wall 15, the outer surfacecontour of which is frustro-conical. The inner surface of the side wallis shaped to define an upper cavity 17 and a lower cavity 19. The innersurface of the side wall 21 defining the upper cavity is taperedslightly inwardly in the direction from top to bottom. The upper edge orlip portion 23 of the cup 11 is rounded. The lower cavity 19, which isdesigned to receive an electric heater unit 25, is in the shape of ashort cylinder having a diameter greater than the diameter of the uppercavity, so that a transverse planar ring-shaped surface 27 lies betweenthe lower edge of the upper cavity 17 and the upper edge of the lowercavity 19. An annular groove 29 is formed in the ring-shaped surface,for receiving a sealing gasket 31. The heater unit 25, which is asuitable conventional type, for example of the same general type asthose commonly used in small Vaporizers, or bottle warmers, is provided.The heater unit 25 is fixed to a circular plate 33 which is held firmlyin place abutting the sealing gasket 31, by means of screws 35 threadedinto the ring surface 27 of the cup 11. The heater unit 25 is pro-2,987,906 Patented June 13, 1961 vided with a conductor cord 37 which ispassed out through an opening 39 in the cup lower cavity side wall, andterminates in a conventional electric plug 41. The cup bottom isprovided with a circular recessed portion 43 adapted for receiving acircular bottom cover plate 45, which is removably fixed to the cup bymeans of screws 47.

The container cover 13 has a generally frustro-conical outer surfaceshape terminating at the top in a wafershaped knob 49. The cover isprovided with an outer frustro-conical cavity 51 and an innercylindrical cavity 53. The side wall 55 of the outer cavity 51 has thesame degree of taper as the cup outer side wall 15. The inner cavity 53has the same diameter as the upper portion of the cup upper cavity 17.The surface joining the cover cavities forms a shoulder 57 having arounded portion which matches the cup lip curvature.

The cup upper cavity 17 is filled with cellulose sponge material 59 upto the level of the cup lip, with the material presenting asubstantially planar top surface 61. The inner cavity 53 of the cover isalso filled with cellulose sponge material 63 which extends a shortdistance below the cavity 53 and presents a planar lower surface 65 formating with the upper surface of the material in the cup. The device isdesigned so that there will be a small amount of interference betweenthe sponges 59, 63 for the case of the thinnest type fabric material tobe spotted.

To operate the device, the sponges 59, 63 are moistened with water,digester material is sprinkled onto the lower sponge, the fabric 67 isdraped over the cup so that the stained portion to be spotted is withinthe cup, and then the cover 13 is put in place and the heater unit 25 isplugged into a conventional electrical outlet. The fabric 67 will belightly clamped between the overlapping cover and cup side walls 55, 15to form a seal to minimize escape of heat and moisture from the cup. Thedevice is designed so that the heat loss is relatively constant, and thetemperature at the fabric is held at close to F. The digesters are mostactive at temperatures from 110 F. to F. It is preferable that thedevice he pre-moisturized and at operating temperature before the fabricis placed in it. If desired, the digester may be applied directly to thefabric.

It is apparent that with the device of my invention, digester spottingof fabrics may be effectively accomplished under optimum conditions oftemperature and moisture. The container and top are preferably made ofmolded plastic, but could be made of other suitable material. While Ihave found cellulose sponge to be an entirely satisfactory fillermaterial, other filler materials could be used, as for example, spongerubber, natural rubber, or other sponge-like materials. A lesserthickness of filler material than that shown could be used,substantially reducing the height of the device, if desired.

While I have shown my invention in only one form it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof.

I claim:

A device for removing stains from fabric by a digestion processcomprising a cup, an electric heater element in said cup, spongematerial substantially filling said cup, a cover for said cup, saidcover having sponge material extending outwardly from its inner surface,with 3 4"; the outer face of first mentioned sponge material beingReferences Cited in the file of this patent capable of makingsubstantially planar contact with the UNITED STATES PATENTS outer faceof said last mentioned sponge matenal when said cover is in place, withthe lower edge of said cover 963,723 Plerce July 5, 1910 extending belowthe upper edge of said cup, and with 5 1,578,178 Scoles 1926 lateralclearance between said cup outer wall surface and 1 315 -13 said coverinner wall surface.

